File folder games are a way for students to practice various skills independently.
They work well in learning centers for lower elementary, special education and for students with autism or Aspergers. They provide extra practice and enrichment.

Independent activities, such as worksheets and file folder games, have often received negative feedback for their usage. However, they have many benefits:

Scaffold skills

Provide extra practice

Improve behavior by keeping students active

Reinforce time on task skills

Promote independent work skills

Allow students to self-correct

Address different learning styles

Provide early finishers with meaningful work

Help students feel success and a sense of accomplishment

Break down skills into manageable tasks

All too often, classrooms are in constant movement with constant directions and interventions from an adult or paraeducator. Students struggle with self-management simply because they haven't been given the opportunity to practice managing themselves. There is nothing wrong with requiring students to complete independent work IF the tasks have a clear purpose and align with teaching objectives (i.e. NOT busy work). In fact, I would say these types of tasks are highly beneficial for life long working/learning skills.

If a student is never allowed to manage his/her own behavior without constant adult intervention, how can we as teachers realistically expect this desired behavior?

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